England Women clinched a crucial seven-wicket win against South Africa Women in the final-over thriller of the Group B match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. 

After South Africa Women chose to bat first, they scored 124/6 in 20 overs. England Women successfully chased the target in 19.2 overs after losing three wickets. 

Stable opening partnership

South Africa had a stable opening partnership of 31 runs between the captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits. At the end of the powerplay, South Africa Women scored 37/1 as Brits lost her wicket after scoring 13 runs. 

Bosch struggled; no boundary between 7th and 13th overs

While Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch had a 40-run partnership for the second wicket, Bosch struggled to move the scoreboard quickly. After the powerplay to 13th over, South Africa failed to hit one boundary.

After Bosch was out for 18 off 26 balls, Sophie Ecclestone bowled the opponent skipper Wolvaardt for 42 off 39 balls.

Star bowler Ecclestone, Kapp and Dercksen fought hard at the end

Marizanne Kapp (26 off 17 balls) and Annerie Dercksen (20 not out off 11 balls) played some useful innings to take the total to the challenging position. In the last four overs, South Africa Women scored 35 runs. 

Among the English bowlers, Sophie Ecclestone was exceptional, as she finished with the bowling figures of 4-0-15-2.

Slow start from England Women

In reply, England had a slow start while the opener Maia Bouchier was dismissed for eight runs in 20 balls. At the end of the powerplay, England Women scored 28/1.

Wyatt-Hodge and Sciver-Brunt successfully controlled the chasing

Although Alice Capsey had good intent, she was dismissed for 19 runs. But the other opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Nat Sciver-Brunt controlled the game very well. They had a 64-run partnership for the third wicket.

While Wyatt-Hodge scored run-a-ball 43 runs, Sciver-Brunt batted till securing England Women’s important win. In the last over, England Women required four runs. After Ayabonga Khaka delivered a dot ball on the first ball, Sciver-Brunt ended the game on the second delivery with a boundary. Sciver-Brunt remained not out for 48 off 36 balls.